Manufacturing (east):
Silver streak
ifo Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, München, 2003
in: ifo Konjunkturperspektiven, 2003, 30, Nr. 07, 19-22
In eastern Germany the negative assessments of the business conditions predominated slightly, as in June, but with regard to future business the scepticism weakened again. Capacity utilisation decreased in the course of the second quarter - partially as a result of the strike in the eastern German metal industry - in both survey areas, in the west to 82.1%, in the east to 80.6% (including food and beverages). According to the appraisals of the enterprises, competitiveness on foreign markets deteriorated in both parts of Germany, particularly outside the EU, but improved in the domestic market. Production plans in the west as well as in the east were still revised downwards, though to a weaker extent. Correspondingly, staff reductions are expected to continue; prices will again come under pressure in the opinion of the firms.